For those craving a taste of nostalgia, liver and onions remains a beloved, albeit divisive, classic. It’s one of those contentious foods that people seem to either love or hate. Variations exist across the world, and many folks flock to it for liver’s nutritional value. It’s relatively low in calories, high in good protein and packed with significant amounts of vitamins A and B12, iron, riboflavin and copper. (It should, of course, be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet, despite what the Liver King might tell you.) In America, it reached the height of its popularity during and shortly after World War II when the U.S. government launched a campaign to bring organ meats to the American dinner table so more popular cuts of pork and beef could be shipped to soldiers overseas. You could say liver helped win the war!

Patriotic duty aside, the dish is more nuanced than many people give it credit for. Whether soaking in milk, chilled salt water, kefir, vinegar or lemon juice, it seems every chef’s recipe differs slightly, each swearing by their own method of removing the gaminess and tenderizing the meat. In the hands of a good cook, the sharp and sweet notes of the caramelized onions cut the metallic and earthy flavors of the offal, and different sauces and seasonings create layers of flavor. Whatever the approach, when the craving strikes you, can’t rest until you get a plate in front of you. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 20 Houston-area restaurants where you can find your next order. 

(Please note: prices cited do not include tax or gratuity and are subject to change.)

Angie’s Country Kitchen, 11708 Hempstead: Put on your stretchy pants and head to Angie’s for comforting classics such as Salisbury steak, beef tips over rice, meatloaf and King Ranch casserole. You’ll find liver and onions on the daily specials every Tuesday with two sides for $10.50. Choices include mashed potatoes, mixed veg, turnip greens, black-eyed peas and fried okra. What’s not to like? It’s cheap, it’s satisfying and it’s locally owned and operated.

The Bull & Bear Tavern & Eatery, 11980 Westheimer: A stalwart favorite for suds and grub in Houston’s West End, this British pub is a great place to share a pint (craft, domestic and international) with your mates while watching American and European sports, enjoying live music or partaking in weekly karaoke, open mic or darts. Dining options include shareable apps, sandwiches, bar pizzas and U.K. specialties such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, chicken curry and lightly battered beef liver and onions served with brown gravy with your choice of two sides for $14.99. Choose from mashed, roasted, scalloped or boiled potatoes, green beans, side salad, French fries and more, or upgrade to premium sides such as mushy peas, loaded mash, Heinz baked beans and fried pickles.

Cleburne Cafeteria, 3606 Bissonet: This family-run Houston institution has a storied history and loyal regulars aplenty who keep coming back to the open-counter display with a tray in hand, eager to make their selections from the numerous affordable dining options. Old-school classics including chicken fried steak, chicken pot pie, baked haddock almondine, chicken and dumplings and, of course, liver and onions, are made fresh each day. The latter costs $10.55 and includes cream, brown or natural gravy upon request. The restaurant recommends calling ahead to confirm availability. Guests can then choose from a selection of sides such as candied yams, green beans, jalapeño cornbread, yeast rolls, spinach casserole and black-eyed peas.

Da Marco Cucina E Vino, 1520 Westheimer: In an elegant, restored 1950s Montrose bungalow on Westheimer lies my top-of-the-list pick. The Calf Liver “Veneziana” with Polenta at Da Marco will have you exclaiming “ah, Venice!”, not unlike the titular explorer of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. At $26 it’s definitely pricey, but worth every penny. Your server may reveal that “You have chosen… wisely.”

Its version of the classic Fegato alla Veneziana (Venetian liver and onions) is comprised of thin, well-trimmed slices pan-fried and smothered with finely-diced Italian parsley and deeply-caramelized red onions. Vinegar is used to deglaze the fond, which is cooked down into a flavor-packed pan sauce that masterfully balances the sweetness of the onion and tempers the earthiness of the liver, giving it a well-rounded, complex sapidity. It’s plated over creamy polenta as a piatto unico (single dish), as is most common in the Veneto. Da Marco offers valet, and proper dress code is required. 

Empire Turkish Grill, 12448 Memorial: Tucked away and beloved by those in the know, this Memorial gem offers authentic, certified halal Turkish fare in a modest setting. Fried liver is on the hot appetizers menu and consists of pan-fried cubes of calves liver served with onion and tomato for $10.95. With Turkish liver and onions, it is especially important to properly clean and trim each piece of liver to get the desired silky texture, lest they become too tough. Served hot and fresh, the seared liver cubes make a great meze to enjoy as a snack or as part of a larger, shared meal. 

Frank’s Grill, multiple locations: This laid-back, All-American, diner-style breakfast and lunch spot has half a dozen locations spread across the Houston area which are open daily from about 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Some locations open or close at slightly different times.) The beef liver and onions on Frank’s signature lunch menu is served with two sides and a dinner roll or cornbread for $12.45. It’s also available on the signature breakfast menu. Sides include mashed potatoes, pinto beans, French fries, Mexican rice, green beans and more. 

Hanz Diner, 185 West Dyna: Located off I-45 North just before Beltway 8, Hanz is the kind of diner you might expect to see in a Quentin Tarantino flick or on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. It’s an unpretentious, salt-of-the-earth kind of place that’s open daily from 6 a.m. ‘til 3 p.m. It offers all your standard American breakfast staples as well as fried pork chops, chicken fried steak and some of my favorite hot chicken in the Houston area. Beef liver and onions is on the lunch menu for $12.45 with your choice of brown or white gravy, bread and two sides including mashed potatoes, charro beans, Cajun fries, cole slaw and more. Beef liver and onions and eggs is on the breakfast menu for the same price with eggs cooked your way, bread and a breakfast side of your choice with options such as grits, country potatoes, oatmeal and hash browns. 

Huffman Café, 24501 FM 2100: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Huffman Café offers an array of homestyle cookin’ and all-day breakfast specials including omelets, steak and eggs, skillets and breakfast burritos.You can order a sizeable portion of liver and onions covered with grilled onions, mushrooms and brown gravy, a slice of garlic toast and two signature sides — including green beans, mashed potatoes and fried okra for $11.99.

Kelley’s Country Cookin’, multiple locations: Owned and operated by the Kelley family since 1984, and now with seven locations, Kelley’s has built a following around its budget-friendly, generously-portioned Southern comfort food. Liver and onions is offered on the daily specials menu with three sides for $11.99. Choose from red beans and rice, buttered carrots, broccoli and cheese casserole, mashed potatoes and more.

Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen, 1743 Post Oak: Proprietor Ziggy Gruber is a third-generation restaurant owner who has owned and operated delis in New York, Los Angeles and now Houston. His beloved deli and bakery Kenny & Ziggy’s is famous for its sky-scraping sandwiches, bountiful breakfast plates and Old World favorites. The menu selection is stacked as high as The Zellagabetsky — its octuple-decker sandwich with corned beef, turkey, roast beef, salami, tongue and pastrami — and includes Grilled Veal Liver and Onions served with two sides for $29.95. It’s the loftiest price on this list, but the portion is Texas-sized. Sides include baked beans, house-cut fries, potato salad, kasha varnishkas, noodle kugel, egg barley farfel with mushrooms and many more.

Luby’s, multiple locations: If you were to crowd-source suggestions for where to find liver and onions, Luby’s nostalgic French Grilled Liver and Onions would undoubtedly be the most frequent reply. Famous for its square fish, chicken fried steak, blackened tilapia, Angus chopped steak, creamy macaroni and cheese, fried okra and much more, this retro chain of cafeteria-style restaurants has endured in Texas since 1947. Here, diners can order a combo tray which includes an entrée, two sides and a roll, or opt for the LuAnn platter for a smaller portion. There are also discounted senior and child options. The restaurant was so prolific at one point it even inspired the name of the character Luanne Platter on the animated television series King of the Hill. 

Mel’s Country Café, 24814 Stanolind: Head to Tomball for down-home cookin’ at this family-owned Southern eatery. Known primarily for its chicken fried steak, fried catfish, Mel’s Monte Cristo and hefty burgers, it also serves up liver and onions for the Mel’s Tuesday Dinner Special menu from 5 to 8 p.m. The cost is $13.95 for a plate of sautéed beef liver smothered in rich, brown gravy with grilled onions.

Mi Pueblito Restaurant, 9425 Richmond and 402 West Grand Parkway, Katy: Founded in 2000, this family-owned establishment offers generous portions of traditional Colombian food, including hígado encebollado, the South American country’s version of liver and onions. The dish is prepared much the same way as the other entries on this list, though with more seasonings and it sees the addition of tomatoes, peppers and herbs such as cilantro and parsley. It’s topped with sautéed onions and served with white rice, your choice of platanos maduros fritos (fried ripe plantains), patacones de Colombia (fried green plantains) or arepas Colombianas (fried corn patties) and your choice of either frijoles rojos Colombianas (red beans), black beans or lentejas (Colombian-style lentils) for $15.55. This combination is all about texture and a variety of flavors blending with each bite to deliver an extremely palatable take on the dish even for the liver averse. 

Noah’s Ark Restaurant & Palapa Bar, 4438 Boulevard: Enjoy a view of Galveston Bay at this laid-back Bacliff destination which serves seafood, burgers, sandwiches and comfort food, including liver and onions with brown gravy for $16.49. It’s served with garlic toast and two side dishes. Noah’s offers options such as macaroni and cheese, onion rings, creamed spinach, tomato slices and rice pilaf. The lively locale also hosts live bands and karaoke on the weekends.

Pasha Turkish Restaurant, 2325 University Boulevard: This family-owned Rice Village Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, in case you need a reason to stop by! It serves Arnavut ciğeri (which translates to “Albanian liver”), a traditional Turkish dish which is typically made of fried lamb or veal liver cubes with sumac, red onions and parsley. Pasha features coated and seasoned pan-fried beef liver served with onion and tomato salad. You can find it on the hot appetizer menu for $11.50. The restaurant is also certified zabiha halal, so you can have peace of mind knowing you are ordering premium quality meats.

Roy’s Breakfast & Lunch, 20220 FM 529: Nestled in the heart of Cypress, Roy’s is a simple, no-frills joint that provides hearty breakfast and homey lunches daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. It serves beef liver and onions for $11.99 with two side dishes. Options include steamed veggies, corn, green beans, French fries and hash browns. 

Seabrook Classic Café, 2511 East NASA Parkway: A longstanding neighborhood jewel, this Bay Area Houston café, located just five minutes away from the Kemah Boardwalk, specializes in Cajun-inspired classics such as seafood gumbo, shrimp and grits, boudin balls, fried oyster po’boys and blackened Texas red fish, as well as burgers, sandwiches and Southern comfort food. It serves a Thanksgiving dinner-sized portion of unbreaded liver and onions with green beans, mashed potatoes with country gravy and toast for $11.95.

Snappy’s Café & Grill, 5803 US HWY 290: You’ll find homestyle Americana out the wazoo at this popular greasy spoon in Katy, which is open for breakfast and lunch. You can get liver and onions for $11.99 with your choice of three sides and one choice of bread. Side options rotate, but typically include items such as French fries, onion rings, peas, corn on the cob, cabbage, mashed potatoes, pinto beans and side salad.

Tel-Wink Grill, 4318 Telephone: Tel-Wink was established in 1940 and relocated to its present location, near Gulfgate, in 1962 when the current owner-operators Dimitri “Jimmy the Greek” Bokos and his wife Peggy Bokos took over. Sadly, Dimitri passed away in 2020, but loyal patrons still line up early for this local institution’s old-school breakfast and lunch. It offers baby beef liver and onions with brown gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable of the day and a fresh roll or cornbread for $10.95. On Mondays, you can get the same baby beef liver smothered in onions with mashed potatoes or fries, spinach, corn or slaw for just $9.95.

Victor’s Deli & Restaurant, 4710 FM 1960 Road West: This New York-style deli in Northwest Houston has been doling out familiar sandwiches, hot and cold plates and all day breakfast since 1988. Its liver and onions is topped with two strips of bacon and served with fries or green beans and mashed potatoes with brown gravy for $12.95. Victor’s is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Still reading this viscus encomium? You must be a dedicated liver and onions devotee indeed! Wanna go celebrate? I feel like liver and onions!

Now, what to pair it with? Pro tip: It goes down smooth with a shot of chilled Turkish Rakı, an anise-flavored pomace brandy. In the rare scenario that you don’t have any Rakı on hand and you’re looking for something to B.Y.O.B. alongside milder plates of liver and onions, look for wines such as off-dry Alsatian or German whites, Pineau d’Aunis, Valpolicella Ripasso, Amarone della Valpolicella, Morellino di Scansano, País Viejo and Cru Beaujolais (ideally Fleurie), or syrah or Côtes du Rhône red blends for bolder renditions, including those with bacon. Should the iron-y taste of liver be a bit much, reach for a big, bold Cali Zin. And if beer is your thing, you can’t go wrong with a pale Belgian Trappist such as Orval, a Belgian tripel or a saison sans Brettanomyces like Saison Dupont. Or… perhaps you prefer to opt for some fava beans and a nice Chianti! 

Mario-Sebastian Berry

Mario-Sebastian Berry is a wine and spirits vendor who has been in the hospitality industry since 2002. Currently, he represents Blanco, Texas-based Andalusia Whiskey Co. He holds numerous wine, beer and spirits certifications including Certified Sommelier. Somehow, he also finds time to be Houston Food Finder’s associate editor and social media manager.